Neighbour's despair over footsteps

An architect who says he has been driven to despair by the noise of his upstairs neighbours' heels on the marble floors of their apartment took his case to the High Court today.

Leslie Stannard, 61, has lived at Albert Court, Prince Consort Road, in Kensington Gore, for 30 years.

He said his flat used to be "very quiet" and " much more civilised".

But, in 1990 two flats upstairs were knocked into one and are now lived in by Kuwaiti businessman Mohammed Al Sharek, who is said to have spent millions on the property.

Mr Stannard is claiming that his life has been made a misery by the constant sound of feet on stone, marble, vinyl or tiled floors.

He is asking deputy High Court judge John Slater, QC, to issue an injunction against Mr Al Sharek to make him carry out costly remedial works to do away with the alleged noise "nuisance".

For his part, Mr Al Sharek denies noise levels are unacceptable and is fighting Mr Stannard's claim.

Mr Al Sharek's counsel, Christopher Heather, asked Mr Stannard if the noise issue had become "something of a preoccupation" since his retirement.

"It certainly makes you aware of it," he replied.

The hearing continues.